At least once a week we are asked what cat food we endorse. And just about every time we say that we like one – bingo – there’s a recall or we learn the company was sold to a corporate giant, or the ingredients changed. For example, Susan recently told us that Science Diet will be adding PLASTIC to their food. Seriously? If you are a long time reader of The Cat Faeries Companion you know that plastic is a cancer cell’s best friend and is otherwise unsafe and toxic.

Susan Thixton is a crusader for truth in cat and dog food labeling as well as she tirelessly stays on top of harmful ingredients, GMO’s, and cat and dog food recalls. You MUST subscribe to her Truth About Pet Food newsletter to stay informed. The world of cat food changes all the time, we need someone like Susan to keep us posted!

Once again, food for our animal friends has been contaminated by harmful additives. This time it’s cat treats. Over 1,000 cartons of “Catswell Brand VitaKitty Chicken Breast with Flaxseed and Vitamins” have been recalled by the manufacturer because of contamination by propylene glycol.

While propylene glycol has been approved by the FDA as an additive for dog and human food, it is banned by the FDA for cat food because it can cause Heinz body anemia, a serious disease for cats that causes the destruction of red blood cells. Symptoms include fever, weakness, loss of appetite, reddish brown urine, skin discoloration and pale lips, mouth, or gums.

This is a continuing and serious problem for cats, dogs and our other animal friends – harmful contaminates in pet food which are introduced somewhere in the supply chain. Often these chemicals are being added overseas, where some pet food companies source their ingredients.

You want to shop cruelty-free but it is hard sometimes to remember which products are developed without animal testing. Well, like almost everything in this digital age, there’s an app for that.

The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) is the organization that administers the Leaping Bunny Program and Logo for companies producing cosmetic, personal care, and household products without animal testing (including the companies’ labs and suppliers).

Leapingbunny.org is the site for the Leaping Bunny program and on it you can find the latest on which companies have pledged to develop and make products that are cruelty-free.

Leaping Bunny also offers apps for iPhones and Android phones that lets you get that information while you are shopping.

There are roughly 2,000 coyotes in Chicago. Chicago is a rare city that actually documents coyote sightings. What this means to you is that there are coyotes in every urban area. We’ve read stories of seeing coyotes casually sauntering down the streets of West Hollywood. Several months ago one was spotted 2 blocks from Cat Faeries office at 4:30am!

The presence of coyotes are beneficial to any community because a coyote will eat 5 rats a day, they’ll eat even more rats during pup season. (Spring/early Summer)

Rats and gophers are a coyote’s favorite foods. Next are rabbits. Sadly they will also eat cats and small dogs. Keep in mind, they would rather eat a rat than cat, but being opportunists they’ll eat what they can. To prove that cats are not an important or desirable part of the urban/suburban coyotes diet is this fact: 7 diet studies of coyotes nationwide found that the presence of cat hair/remains varied from only 0% to 2% (Seth P. D. Riley, PhD — Wildlife Ecologist, National Park Service and Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of California, Los Angeles).

Coyotes and wolves hate each other. When there is a healthy ratio of wolves to coyotes there will never be an overpopulation of either species. Shooting wolves is not only vicious, it’s really stupid because it decreases the natural enemy of the coyote, and therefore the population of coyotes explodes. If left alone, nature will ensure that the populations of both species stays healthy and balanced.

Shooting or trapping coyotes are a completely ineffective and you cannot “eradicate” them. In fact eradicating coyotes is foolish, impossible (one goes away, another comes in) and worse, it’s just like killing cats during the Middle Ages: disease ridden rats will increase.

We know of one Northern California golf course which encourages coyotes because they eat gophers. Poisons and traps are not needed – money is saved! The environment is not polluted and is balanced

Keeping cats safe. And important tips for feral colony feeders.

Coyotes are the most active during dusk and dawn. If you do let your cat go outside for a bit of air and to sniff around do it after 10 am and before 3pm. You should probably not leave the cat unattended. Coyotes rarely if ever attack humans.

Keep those same hours in mind when feeding feral cat colonies. Stay and collect the food dishes and trays. That’s a good idea anyway, it’s not ok to litter or leave a mess for others to clean up.

Coyotes are smart predators, and just like a human stalker, they watch from afar and observe the habits of potential prey. Once they establish a pattern of behavior and activity they’ll make their move. It’s a good idea to mix up the routine to throw them off if you let your cat outside and/or suspect there are coyotes in your neighborhood.

This article is dedicated to a very well loved feline named Keystone Wolf. His human daddy is Robb Wolf, author, blogger, CrossFit trainer, and one of the top authorities on the Paleo Diet which your cat faerie follows.

We love the internet so much because we can share vital information with each other. Please pass our article on to your friends for it may save the lives of countless cats – and coyotes – who while they may be scary and creep us out (well, me anyway!), they are here, they are part of our world, and they serve a purpose. These two links will tell you more about Robb and Keystone.

Search the Cat Faeries Blog

Note: We greatly respect everyone's right to privacy, and Cat Faeries will never sell or share your email address or anything about you with anyone. Never, ever! You may unsubscribe anytime. Easy peasy!

About Cat Faeries

Cat Faeries are the feline specialists who will help you get your cat back in the litter box. We are whizzes at harmonizing multi cat households, and keeping cats feeling young and healthy. And cat toys – wowie meowie, our hand made in the US cat toys are legendary! We are always hunting and gathering information to make the lives of cats and the people who love them, better.

Visit CatFaeries.com and learn about our wonderful products which we have crafted or sourced for the modern housecat. Easy and secure online shopping awaits you. And with great prices. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter.